General view of the Chapel Royal looking from the inner court of the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand
Burma
Postcards from original paintings by U Ba Kyi, at the Strand Hotel, Rangoon, Burma
U Ba Kyi (17 July 1912 – 15 April 2000) studied for a year at the Beaux Arts de Paris and he also studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He managed to weave together the western style with the traditional Burmese style. He painted murals and watercolors and his work is exhibited around the world. These paintings he did for the Strand Hotel show the lighter side of Burmese character.
Most likely these were done before 1950.
New York, NY
June 1985
Espanol Lady – sounds grand, even though green is not my color.
We’re our unexciting selves – work is becoming sane as I’m now a fat cat, tho became slim in the process. I’m bummed your flight didn’t bring you via us. Hope it was a grand vacay!
Love, Wo
Shadow puppet Sita. Tholubomalatta performance. Andhra Pradesh, India 35 1/2 inches high. Perforated and painted goatskin. Twentieth century. American Museum of Natural History.
Thailand
August 1988
Another beautiful day in Bogor! (Indonesia) I finally got to the PTA library and replenished my reading material. Next I will find the dressmaker, also within walking distance, and have a couple of batik shirts made. Of course, I expect to look at cloth in Medan tomorrow!! We are having fried rice for lunch – our cook makes the best in the world. Let me know more about your dress – I will expect to pay for it, you know. I should find a hairdresser soon, but I like it longer, I find. And no one dresses up in the least here!
Love, Va
Jakarta, Indonesia
July 1987
My hotel is very nice but we will be here only a few more days before moving to a guest house in Bogor. All is going well and I have now more or less adjusted to the new time zone.
The weather is hot – 90’s and humid but that is normal. Traffic here is terrific but I don’t have to drive in it. Our work is on from early morning to late at night but not too late.
Love, Bill
Karachi, Pakistan
Feb. 1982
I have been drooling over the beautiful silks, carpets, brass, etc. here in the hotel shops. Wish I could come back to this part of the world to do all my shopping! Bill is off to Islamabad today. I have had my hair trimmed, am reading 2 books, the room has TV, video movies – so I’m keeping busy. The lobby is elegant and interesting. Wish you were here.
Love, Va.
Hotel Intercontinental, Karachi
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto Hotel
Bangkok, Thailand
February 1985
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Do these dancers look kind of familiar to you? We saw a dancing show yesterday – many of same steps you learned. Bill took lots of pictures! It is to be 96 degrees here today. We joined the worshipers a the Temple of the Emerald Buddha yesterday – very impressive.
Tomorrow (Bill’s birthday) we leave for Singapore for 2 days. Have a good weekend!
Love and Kisses, Mom
“Finger Nail Dance” one of the most beautiful Thai Classical Dances
Bangkok, Thailand
October 198?
The trip over was long as usual. Got in about 11:00 pm. Just bit late. I am just lying by the pool and resting.
This hotel is very nice about like the Mandarin in Jakarta in many ways but with a larger pool!
All OK so far. Will write regularly.
Love, Bill
The Regent Bangkok, Thailand
Tokyo, Japan
The Palace Hotel located in the hub of Tokyo, adjacent to Central Station and business center also boasts of fine surroundings, especially wonderful view of the Imperial Palace Plaza.
Postcard Buzz 